SRC-VRA S.B. 1809 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1809 By: Whitmire Intergovernmental Relations 4/23/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE The 75th Texas Legislature created sports and community venue districts. The Harris County Sports Authority (sports uthority) has been occasionally asked to contribute funding for events that do not take place at the three approved venue projects. As proposed, S.B. 1809 clarifies that the sports authority can contribute funds to attract events generally to the Houston/Harris County area regardless of whether there is a nexus with one of the approved venue projects. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 335, Local Government Code, by adding Section 335.0721, as follows: Sec. 335.0721. PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT FUND. (a) Authorizes a sports and community venue district (district) located in whole or in part in a county with a population of 3.3 million or more to set aside out of revenues derived from any tax imposed pursuant to Section 335.071(e) a promotion and development fund of not more than ____ percent of such revenues in each calendar year. (b) Authorizes money in the promotion and development fund to be spent by the district or as the district may direct to pay any expenses connected with certain activities. (c) Requires the promotion and development fund to be under the exclusive control of the board of directors of the district, and requires the board to have full responsibility for approving and safeguarding the expenditure of money from the fund. (d) Prohibits the promotion and development fund from being used for any event, activity, project or other matter not related to the purposes for which the district was formed or the types of projects described in Section 335.001(6), except that the promotion and development fund may be used for an alternative project as that term is defined in Section 335.076(b). (e) Requires the promotion and development fund to be audited at least annually and the results of such audit must be reported to the board and the governing bodies of any municipality or county that created the district. SECTION 2.Effective date: 91 days after adjournment. [Bill as drafted contains no stated effective date.]